Typewriting and book-keeping machine provided with decimal tabulating mechanism



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Dec. 30, 1958 H. MARTIN TYPEWRITING AND'BOOK-KEEPING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH DECIMAL TABULATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 17, 1955 Dec. so, 1958 ARTIN 2,866,532

1-]; M TYPEWRITING AND BOOK-KEEPING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH-DECIMAL TABULATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR'. HA NS M I? TIN.

ATTORNEY 2,866,532 TYPEWRITING AND BOOK-KEEPING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH DECIMAL TABULATING MECHANISM Hans Martin, Kaufbeuren, Allgau, Germany, assignor to Alpina Biiromaschinen-Werk G. m. lb. H., Kaufbeuren, Allgau, Germany Application January 17, 1955, Serial No. 482,353 3 Claims. (Cl. 197-178) The present invention relates to a typewriting and bookkeeping machine provided with a decimal tabulating mechanism.

It is generally known that a mechanism of this kind can be used to advantage for the writing of figure columns. For this purpose, there is arranged with the aid of a key at the comma place, a slide. If, for example, a figure of four places has to be written, the typist actuates the decimal tabulator key 1000 and thereby releases the paper carriage for motion or travel until it is stopped, four stops before the comma place, by a tabulator stop actuated via a mechanism by the decimal tabulator key.

In the customary type of construction, the key-heads of the decimal tabulator keys are so arranged that they form a tabulator-key-row positioned outside of the typewriter keyboard, so that these decimal tabulator keys can be used only for tabulating purposes.

It has, however, been found a drawback that for the actuation of the tabulating mechanism the typist has to move her hands out of writing position. Furthermore, there is a special mechanism needed for every decimal key in order to enable a control of the tabulator stops arranged in the rear portion of the machine from the tabulator-key-row. And, finally, the typewriter keyboard has to be enlarged for the size of the tabulatorkey-row, which causes constructional difiiculties.

It is true that there is also known a typewriting and book-keeping machine provided with a decimal tabulating mechanism which tries to overcome the aforesaid difiiculties. However, the construction of this latter machine is likewise not free from deficiencies. This typewriting and book-keeping machine is provided with typewriting key-heads which are vertically shiftably mounted on an appertaining key-lever. When in typewriting position, these key-heads are secured to the key-levers by means of springs and projections. If, however, these key-heads are to be used for tabulating, it is first necessary to loosen the connection between the keyhead and key-lever, while simultansously the key-lever has to be secured in its position. Through pressure exerted by the finger upon the key-head, the latter is then displaced in downward direction and thereby hits upon a mechanism which actuates the tabulator stop.

It will be seen that speedy typing and tabulating is not possible on a typewriting and book-keeping machine of this kind, on which after typing the keys must be changed before tabulating in accord with the decimal place is possible. This known machine, therefore, is not only too complicated in its construction, but also in its mode of operation.

The invention overcomes all of these disadvantages of known machines by devising the typewriting and bookkeeping machine in such a way that its key-heads are enabled to serve the double purpose of typewriting and tabulating, whereby the key-heads are rigidly connected to the key-levers, and whereby the key-levers are so devised and arranged that they control, through an additional longitudinal displacement, also the tabulating mechanism.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the following 2,866,532 Patented Dec. 30,

detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which an embodiment of the invention has been shown by way of example. However, I wish to say that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appending claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by the same reference numerals,

Figs. 1 and 2 are side-views of the typewriting and decimal tabulating mechanism; the machine-frame having been removed for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a top-view of a detail of the transmission means of the tabulating mechanism; I

Figs. 4 and 5 are fractional perspective views of the tabulator-key-row of the typewriting machine.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 designates a typewriter key-lever carrying at its forward end a key-head 2 and provided at its rear end with an elongated hole or slot 3. By means of this elongated hole 3 the typewriter key-lever 1 is rotatably mounted on a pivot bar 4 supported by the machine-frame 5. The rear end of the typewriter keylever 1 terminates in an angle-arm 6 in which engages a return spring 7 fastened to a hook 8 which is rigidly secured to the machine-frame 5. The return spring 7 pulls the typewriter key-lever 1 in the direction of the key-head 2 and simultaneously presses it against a stop 9 provided in the machine-frame 5. The anglearm 6 of the typewriter key-lever 1 has a hook-shaped end 10 engaging in the elongated hole or slot 11 (see Fig. 3) of a connecting rod 12 which is pivoted to one end of a double-armed lever 13. The double-armed lever 13 is pivotally supported on a bolt 14 provided in the machine-frame 5 and has its other end pivotally fastened to a rod 15. The rod 15 slides on a projecting portion 16 of the machine-frame 5 and has its end, which is turned away from the double-armed lever 13, provided with guiding means 17, in which engages an arm 19 of an angle-lever 18. The angle-lever 18 is rotatably mounted on a pivot bar 20 provided in the machine-frame 5 and engages with its second arm 21 in the guiding means of a vertically shiftable stop 22 arranged in the machineframe.

The typewriter key-lever 1 is connected in per se known manner via pull means 23, a double-armed lever 24 rotatably supported by the machine-frame 5, and a second pull member 25, with the type-bar 26 rotatably supported by the machine-frame 5. The key-head 2 has, at the side facing the operator of the machine, a practically vertically extending face portion 27, on which is provided a' tabulating mark 28 (see Fig. 4).

The typewriting or book-keeping machine is provided with a plurality of juxtaposed typewriter key-levers 1 as described above and with stops 22 which by means of the transmission mechanism, consisting of the connecting rods 12, 15, double-armed lever 13 and the angle-lever 18, are connected with a typewriter key-lever 1. It is preferably the lowermost row of the board of keys which is devised as hereinbefore described (see Figs. 4 and 5).

Positioned in the vicinity of the angle-arm 6 of the typewriter key-lever 1 and separated from the anglearm 6 only by a small gapis a horizontal plate .29 which extends throughout the entire width of the key-board. The plate 29 is rigidly secured to a release arm 30 which, after thefashion of a double armed lever, is rotatably v supported in its middle on a pivot-bar 31 provided in the machine-frame 5. Provided at the upper end of the release arm 30 is a release head 32 which rests against the collar of a gear wheel 33. The gear wheel 33 is shiftably supported on an axle 34. The axle 34 is supported by a paper carriage guide 35 which is detachably secured to the machine-frame 5. The gear wheel 33 is toothed at its front face and forced by means of a pressure spring 36, mounted on the axle 34, against a stepped gear wheel 37 which is likewise toothed at its front face and freely rotatably, but axially shiftably, seated on the axle 34. In the paper carriage guide 35 moves on balls 38 the paper carriage 39 provided with a roller 41 mounted on supports 40. The paper carriage carries at its underside a rack 42 which is in engagement with the shiftable gear wheel 33. In the second step of the stepped gear wheel 37 engages a ratchet 43 which is rockably mounted in the machine-frame and which prevents the stepped gear wheel 37 from rotating. Mounted'on the paper car- ;igge 39 are holding means 44 for the per seknown slides Rotatably supported on the pivot bar 31 is further a skip key-lever 46, carrying at its forward end a key head 47. Provided in the rear end of the skip-key-lever 46 is an elongated hole 48 in which engages the hook-shaped head of a connecting rod 49. The other end of the connecting rod 49 is rotatably coupled to the plate 29.

When the typing goes on, the typewriter key-levers 1 are, through pressure exerted upon the key-heads 2, displaced in customary manner in downward direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 (see dotted-line-position in Fig. 5). The result is that the typewriter key-lever 1 is rotated about the bar 4 and that the type-bar 26 is rotated by means of the pull members 23, 25 and the double-armed lever 24 in the direction toward the roller 41. Upon release ofthe key-heads 2 by the fingers of the operator, the return spring 7 returns the typewriter key lever 1 to its position of rest, in which it rests against the stop 9.

For tabulating, the respective key-head 2 must be displaced in horizontal direction toward the bar 4 as indicated by the arrow (see Fig. 1) through pressure exerted against the key-head by the thumb of the operator. The result is that the typewriter key-lever 1 is likewise displaced in rearward direction (see dotted-line-position in Fig. 4). During this displacing movement the typewriter key-lever 1 and the transmission mechanism and stop 22 are displaced into the position illustrated in Fig. 2 in the following manner:

The connecting rod 12 has to follow the movement of the typewriting key-lever 1 and thus rotates the doublearmed-lever 13. The latter pulls the rod in the direction toward the key-board and thus rotates the anglelever 18, so that the stop 22 is displaced in upward direction. At the same time, the typewriting key-lever 1 hits with its angle-arm 6 against the plate 29 and thereby rotates the release arm 30. The latter displaces with its head 32 the gear wheel 33 provided with a collar against the pressure of the spring 36 on the axle 34 and thus moves the gear wheel 33 out of engagement'with the stepped gear wheel 37 and with the rack 42. The stop for the paper carriage is thereby removed, and the carriage, actuated in per se known manner by a spring, starts its movement until the slide 45, supported in the holding means 44, hits against the lifted stop 22 and thereby stops the paper carriage 39 in the corresponding figure column at the desired decimal place (see Fig. 2).

After release of the key-head 2 by the thumb of the operator, the typewriter key-lever 1 is returned by the return spring 7 to starting position, so that the gear wheel 33 is again moved by the pressure spring 36 into engagement with the rack 42 and the stepped gear wheel 37. As the ratchet 43 locks the stepped gear wheel 37 against rotation. the carriage 39 is thereby again locked up in its position. In addition to this, the stop 22 is likewise returned in downward direction to starting position.

In order to be able to skip, according to requirements, any desired number of figure columns, there is arranged, beside the typewriting key-levers, the skip key-lever 46. Through pressure exerted by the finger upon the key-head 47, the skip key-lever 46 is moved into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereby the skip key-lever 46, connected with the plate 29 by means of the rod 49, rotates the release arm 30 and thereby releases in the afore-described manner the paper carriage 39 for its movement according to requirements.

The tabulating marks 28 are arranged either on the face portions 27 of the key-heads (as shown in Fig. 4), or on the space key 50 in front of the appertaining keyhead 2 (as shown in Fig. 5). It will be noticed, therefore, that in the novel type of typewriting or book-keeping machine as hereinbefore described, the keys as well as the entire construction of the machine remain essentially unchanged, as for the actuation of the tabulating means the already existing key-levers of the typewriter key-board are used. During the operation of the machine it is possible to typewrite, and then to tabulate in accord with the decimal place immediately afterwards, whereby the typist can leave her hands in typing position and simultaneously actuate the decimal tabulating means with her thumb. In this way, the fingers overstrained already by the typewriting, are not burdened with the work of tabulating, which work is performed by those fingers of the hand which are most powerful and therefore best suited for this kind of work, viz. the thumbs.

The present invention is not confined for use exclusively in typewriting or book-keeping machines, but can be used in all kinds of machines which serve a similar purpose and are provided with a tabulating device.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a typewriting and book-keeping machine, the combination of type-bars, a carriage stop device including vertically movable members, key-levers individually operatively connected with said type-bars and being vertically rockable for actuating said type-bars, and mechanisms permanently individually interconnecting said members with vertically rocking portions of said key-levers, said key-levers being capable of individual longitudinal movement for actuating said mechanisms and vertically moving said members upon longitudinal movement of saidkeylevers.

2. In a typewriting and book-keeping machine, the combination of type-bars, a carriage stop device includ' ing vertically movable members, key-levers individually operatively connected with said type-bars and being vertically rockable for actuating said type-bars, and mechanisms individually operatively connected with said members and individually including horizontally movable elements which are individually movably, permanently connected with vertically rocking portions of said keylevers, said key-levers being capable of individual horizontal longitudinal movemet indvidually moving said elements for actuating said mechanisms and vertically moving said members upon longitudinal movement of said key-levers.

3. In the typewriting and book-keeping machine set forth in claim 2, said key-levers including means movably connected with said elements and affording individual vertical movement of said key-levers relatively to said elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNIT ED STATES PATENTS 477,054 Johnson June 14, 1892 839,503 Myers Dec. 25, 1906 926,149 Tomlinson s- June 29, 1909 940,395 Labofish Nov. 16, 1909 997,622 Jarvis et al July 11, 1911 

